OF FAMILIES, BIRTHDAYS, AND LOVE
In addition to record temperatures, and a downpour of mosquitoes, the city has been buzzing this week.
Congrats to Joey and Asha. Tatler saw the rock, thank God I was wearing my Gucci shades……
Rebecca Brandt blew her candles out to the strains of the 50/50 Band at the Jamaica Pegasus and Boscobel did their first anniversary thing, in the most breath-taking setting. A great time was had by all. Jeff McKitty needs to take a bow as well as well as Valrie Fearon from the Grounds Department of Beaches Boscobel. She displayed excellent customer service, as unlike her seniors, who pointed with total nonchalance, she took time to take guests to where they needed to go. Congrats again, Valerie.
Looking spectacular were Louis Grant of Sandals Dunn’s River and his gorgeous wife, Debra.
The gorgeous, one Allen Michael Chastenet, now a very proud dad, with plans by the way to have many more, (little Raquels and Allens) is returning to his native Saint Lucia, to manage the family’s 20 room boutique style Villa Creole. We’ll miss the class and sophistication, but at least he’s not too far from the Rock.
Out-going Canadian High Commissioner John Robinson, is part of that formidable group of diplomats who came to Jamaica, and has so endeared himself that we really need to make him an honorary Jamaican. Thalia and Mike Lyn hosted what has got to be the most formidable party of the year last week Thursday for John. Let’s just say the book can now be written on choosing the right mix of guests.
A bientot!
PS. Congrats to Jean Wilson on her latest publication No more ‘Smalling Up’ of Me.
Source: The Observer
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Socializing with Joe Issa! 
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/world-news/20150422/greek-anger-over-state-cash-grab-hospitals-schools
Happy Birthday – Joseph “Joey” Issa – Jamaica https://youtu.be/OFCcmBv-JRQ
Stevie W cover, Fifty/50 Band – Jamaica
Kingston, Jamaica, paid tribute to its most famous son this weekend, celebrating what would have been the 70th birthday of Bob Marley with a series of live events that featured the singer’s sons, former collaborators and the island’s newest wave of socially conscious reggae performers. http://www.rollingstone.com/music/live-reviews/backstage-at-jamaicas-joyous-bob-marley-birthday-celebrations-20150209
old.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20030706/ent/ent5.html
mobile.jamaicagleaner.com/20090306/social/social5.php
http://mail.rhodes-caribbean.com/gleaner/20110410/out/out1.html
A celebration of friends and friendships
Self-imposed restrictions dictated by calendar events such as birthdays, and anniversaries, and moments dictated by professional, scholastic and familial commemorations are the usual reasons to throw a party. And as these events are cyclical, it robs those wedded to this way of life of that ‘wow’ factor, making their daily existence one of humdrum and predictable monotony!
Not so, however, for life’s bon vivants, and life members of the international uber class! As it is in the rest of the world of the fabulous, so it is here in Kingston, Jamaica, where members of the ruling and social elite need no other excuse to host a party, other than the simple reason of ‘just because’! This is perhaps the single best reason to throw a party. In doing so, it provides the host with a carte blanche to decide on theme, guests and general tone of the party. Not bound by the conventions based on the accepted socialised practices associated with cyclical celebrations and the mandatory expectations that are attendant to these occasions!
As one of upper St Andrew’s leading arbiter and social pillars, second generation advertising agency owner and the honorary consul of Iceland, Robert MacMillan, is a man of convention, guided by a sense of duty and service to community and fellow man. It is this sense of duty which has seen him serving Rotary Club and Rotary International with distinction and as dean of the Consular Corps of Jamaica for one term only, opting not to seek re-election and thus facilitate the ascension to that post by others. A loyalist based on the tenets of old-fashioned principles of honour, service and love of country, he set store to the amity and bond of friendship while embracing the spirit and nature of the bon vivant, secure in his own accomplishments and ready to celebrate those of others!
And so on Saturday, April 2, the erstwhile raconteur threw open the doors to his fabulous hacienda-styled home for what was a fabulously intimate haute swelleganza of the finest order! Dears, it was quite the smasheroni, with those in attendance, including Kingston’s leading citizenry, leading members of the diplomatic corps and consular corps. Talk about fab!
Guests entered the home to the welcomingly melodies of Andres Lopez on keyboard, and the resident concert grand as his muse, the talented young musician hit the right notes all evening long and as evening became night, he simply mellowed! Luvs, The Jamaica Pegasus hotel catered, so you know we are talking a simply marvellous fusion of the tropical and cosmopolitan, here with premium libations only a nod away. But luvs, the belle of the ‘ball’ was undoubtedly the red velvet cheesecake specially made by Zein Issa-Nakash for the occasion. It was to die for!
It was a fab-fest and nothing but; a celebration of friends and friendships, and so there was an interlude which saw Monsignor Father Richard Albert invoking divine blessings; followed by the host, who led guests in three toasts; the first to Edward Seaga; the second to the parents of United States diplomat James Hathaway, Bob and Marilyn Hathaway, visiting from Montana; and the third, to the dearly departed friends who had made the transition from this life to the next! It was all very touching and yet sobering, as it indeed occasioned a moment of true celebration of life, friends and all the bounties afforded by both gifts!
Among those out, sharing in the beautiful fellowship were newly installed Chancellor of the University of Technology and former Prime Minister, Edward Seaga and wife Carla; Senate President Dr Oswald Harding and wife Marigold Harding, the custos of St Andrew; Opposition Member of Parliament Dr Peter Phillips; Senator Tom Tavares-Finson and wife Rose; head of the European Union Ambassador Marco Mazzocchi Alemanni and wife Fiela; British High Commissioner Howard and Gill Drake; Mexican Ambassador Leonora Rueda and companion Nigel Pagon; former Canadian High Commissioner John Robinson, on the start of his annual Jamaican vacation; the esteemed Alex and Erica Hamilton; the eminent Peggy Blades and daughter Susan Scott; legal luminary Christopher Bovell and his wife, Michelle Bovell; Cecil and Rosie McIver; Charles Hanna; Sylvia Collister; Barclay and Deidre Ewart; Richard and Diana Stewart; conglomateur Kenny Benjamin and entrepreneur Ian and Celia Levy.
We saw Honorary Consul to Israel Ainsley Henriques and wife Marjorie; Honorary Consul of Portugal Paul Issa and wife Oriente Issa; Christopher Nakash and wife the fabulous Zein Issa-Nakash; Captain Michael and Thalia Lyn, the honorary consul of Thailand, and her visiting siblings, Karen Chang, visiting from Napa Valley, California and Mary-Joy O’Reilly, visiting from Toronto, Canada; Honorary Consul of Ghana Patrick Lynch and sibling, Director of Tourism John Lynch; the charming Nicola Croswell-Mair; international legal consultant and power broker Harold Brady; legal powerhouse Peter Millingen and wife Stacy Barbar Millingen; Captain Michael and AnnMaire Feanny; the charmingly lovely Deika Morrison; businessman and philanthropist Steve Ashley; Doug and Karen Brown; Maree Sigurdson; Leicester and Belinda Levy; Richard and Simone Khouri; John Burrowes and companion Judy-Angel Markes; George and Debbie Cumming; William and Sandy Tavares-Finson; Robert Stephenson; the lovely Prudence Simpson; Martin and Carmen Schaade; Mickey Hill and his lovely companion; Francine Haughton; and heir apparent to the MacMillan advertising dynasty, Travis MacMillan; plus a number of others!
http://old.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20011104/arts/arts1.html
O, Canada!
BY KIMONE THOMPSON Associate editor
thompsonk@jamaicaobserver.com
Friday, May 29, 2015
GREEN Island, Hanover, resident Andrea Paisley yesterday travelled the four hours to the Canadian High Commission in Kingston to pick up the immigrant visa for which she applied in March, making her the first person in Jamaica to be successful under that government’s new Express Entry system.
It was a prayer answered for the 32-year-old single mother, who has long been planning to migrate to give herself and her eight-year-old twin boys a better quality of life.
She had every confidence that she would have been successful, she said. What she didn’t bank on was it happening so soon; two months after submitting the application.
“I was so happy. I was ecstatic,” she told the Jamaica Observer, recalling her emotions when she was informed that the processing was successful.
http://m.jamaicaobserver.com/mobile/news/O–Canada-_19034408
C’dn scholarships open to Caribbean students
Camille Robinson-RegisBy RON FANFAIR
Trinidad & Tobago’s High Commissioner to Canada, Camille Robinson-Regis, has urged Caribbean students to take advantage of the Emerging Leaders in the Americas Program (ELAP) — which also includes the Caribbean — that offers scholarships for student exchanges in research at the college, undergraduate and graduate levels.
Interested students in the Caribbean can apply for a C$7,000 scholarship for a college or undergraduate exchange of up to four months and for a C$10,000 scholarship for a graduate exchange of up to six months.
– See more at: http://sharenews.com/archives/20100428cdn-scholarships-open-caribbean-students/#sthash.TRKlFhfS.dpuf
Jamaica’s Toronto Consul General’s Tenure Extended
in National News August 20, 2014
Consul General’s Tenure Extended
By Neil Armstrong
Pride Contributing Writer
TORONTO, Ontario – Jamaica’s consul general at Toronto, Seth George Ramocan, is elated that his term of office has been extended, from July 30 when it was officially completed, to November 30 this year.
He revealed this at a Community Farewell Reception held for him and Sheila Sealy Monteith, Jamaica’s high commissioner to Canada, on August 11 at the Jamaican Canadian Centre in Toronto.
Ramocan asked Noel Arscott, Jamaica’s minister of local government and community development, who was present, to pass on his appreciation to Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller for “lifting the bar” in keeping him in the position after the government changed from JLP to PNP in the 2011 election, and for reappointing him after his tenure was completed. Ramocan described this move as unprecedented.
http://pridenews.ca/2014/08/20/jamaicas-toronto-consul-generals-tenure-extended/
Bavaria’s best Newcomer band 2014 is “50/50” – winning a concert tour to Quebec
30.07.2014
The Munich group 50/50 is celebrating its victory at the Newcomer Contest 2014 – Picture © Die Gebrüder Krimm
The winning band at Bavaria’s Newcomer Contest 2014 is « 50/50 ». The group of 4 were chosen Saturday July 26th in front of 1500 spectators in Wurtzburg. From the 100 candidates, three of the five finalists came from the Bavarian capital Munich: « 50/50 », « The Capitols » and « Naked SuperHero ». The other two finalists, « Polar Bird » and « Mustache Monkeys » originate from Regensburg and Miltenberg.
Felix, Jonas, Paul and Flo, the four members of the winner-band, will undertake their tour in early September, giving several concerts in the Canadian province, e.g. at the international music festival « Envol et Macadam » September 5 & 6 in Quebec-City. Simon Gaudry, organiser of Envol et Macadam, traveled to Bavaria to be part of the jury.
http://www.baviere-quebec.org/archives/pm/2014/00734/index.php.en?sektor=4&jahr=2014
First Look: Britney Spears and Rogelio feud on ‘Jane the Virgin’ http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2015/11/07/first-look-britney-spears-and-rogelio-feud-jane-virgin-cw/75314662/
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20111202/social/social3.html
Seniors with many years of love have a taste of Valentine in St Mary
val
It was an afternoon of caring, sharing and love as seniors from across the parish were feted by the National Council for Senior Citizens in St Mary, during a Pre-Valentine Love Affair on Thursday, February 13.The event was held inside the conference room at the Ministry of Labour and Social Security office in Port Maria under the theme ‘Spread the Love of Joy and Happiness through Sharing.” The seniors were feted as they shared stories of love, marriage and happiness and listened to vintage music. They also shared in the story of St. Valentine.Organizer of the event, Angella Toyloy, said the afternoon was a way of getting the seniors to socialize and empower them so they don’t feel left out of all the excitement surrounding Valentine’s Day.
http://www.northcoasttimesja.com/?p=337
Ocho Rios Magnate Urges JAMPRO to Press on with BPO, SEZs
Using encouraging idioms like “nothing ventured, nothing gained”, “do nothing, expect nothing” and especially, Brian Tracy’s “positive expectations are the mark of the superior personality”, influential businessman Joe Issa has urged Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) to press on with the development of the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector and the that will facilitate its growth.
“Our people are Jamaica’s biggest assets; so any industry, like the BPO, which operates around the utilization of local IT talents must not only be encouraged, but strategically developed as a potential source of employment and economic growth,” stating “it takes only a small portion of that huge market to make big difference…Read more here: https://joeyissahope.wordpress.com/2017/02/06/ocho-rios-magnate-urges-jampro-to-press-on-with-bpo-sezs/